43' and the playoffs

It seems (and I emphasize "seems" as I haven't done the math) that there are far fewer shutouts occurring in the playoffs than in the recent past. For those of you that watch a lot of HS ball (I don't) do you attribute this to (1) 43', (2) better hitters, (3) fewer shutdown pitchers are some combination of the three?

Alternatively, have things not changed . . . I just haven't been paying enough attention.

 

IMHO the 43' distance has made the game much more offensive. You stilll have a few lock down type pitchers but overall there are fewer shutouts and certainly fewer no hitters. Great topic!

 

12 shutouts in the 4A East.

The 43' has made a big difference I believe; a positive one. There has been less pitcher dominance overall.

I believe there will be more discussion in the next year or so about moving the fences back; probably to about 225' and/or making them taller. That was mentioned a few times in the college playoffs this past week.

Seems like the path is similar to the way baseball started. I was just reading where baseball started at 45', pitching underhand.

 

Based on some college baseball scores

I thought they still were pitching underhand

 

Fences in OKC

If you watch the WCWS you will see that fences have been changed in OKC. It was 190' down the lines! Now it will be 200' and the fences were raised (6' I think). Still an easy shot.

 

I am curious...how many high schools outside not within these measurements. I am fairly certain our field is already at 225' and I know they are min 6', though I suspect slightly taller than that.

Wondering how much play this has in the homerun numbers we see posted across the state.

 

Here are some numbers in support of more offense

SC Playoffs:

Code:

 
[FONT=Courier New]AAAA[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New]Year  Shut-   "Average"   Scores   Pitching[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New]     outs      score    reported  distance[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New]2010:   2     5.9 - 1.8     12       43'[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New]2009:   4     4.1 - 1.5     13       40'[/FONT]
 
AAA
[FONT=Courier New]Year  Shut-   "Average"   Scores   Pitching[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New]     outs      score    reported  distance[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New]2010:   2     6.4 - 2.6     11       43'[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New]2009:   6     3.8 - 0.8     13       40'[/FONT]
 

 

Watching all the HRs during the GT regional made me wonder about the fence distance and the strength of the hitters they kept talking about.

There are 14U players hitting HRs over fences the same or greater distance. Even more HS hitters doing the same thing.

Talking with a number of college players over the years I always hear the same stories of strengthening, endurance running, etc., starting at 6 a.m. and again at 4 p.m., etc., on a daily basis. So it makes me wonder why they need to do all that for a fence that's not any farther than a normal HS fence. Something about that picture doesn't make sense.

 

Thanks!

Man, those numbers are pretty telling. Clearly the hitters are profiting from the 43'. Ironically, I think the pitchers will also profit logterm as they will learn that some of the things they were getting away with @ 40' (the 'high school rise ball') aren't going make it at 43.

 

probably won't happen

I don't foresee a wholesale moving back of outfield fences or making them taller. This is an expensive undertaking and in many facilities the extra space may not be available.

If you were building a new facility today, would you opt to make it a 210' or maybe 225' park? better have some speedy outfielders.